Good morning, everyone.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance is now resuming its consideration of tax evasion and the use of tax havens.
I wish to welcome our guests today. First, by video conference from Washington, I want to welcome Mr. Thomas Cardamone, managing director for the Global Financial Integrity organization. Welcome.
Also by video conference from New York, I want to welcome Mr. H. David Rosenbloom, from Caplin & Drysdale. Mr. Rosenbloom is also attached to New York University School of Law as the director of the international tax program. Welcome.
Here in Ottawa, I want to welcome Mr. Peter Gillespie, project director of the Halifax Initiative. Welcome.
In Ottawa, as I'm sure our guests by video conference know, we have all the sitting members of the House of Commons finance committee. The chair, Mr. James Rajotte, has asked to be excused today to attend an event outside of Ottawa, and he has asked me to chair this meeting, which I have accepted. My name is Peggy Nash. I am vice-chair of the finance committee.
I will also need to excuse myself at a later point in the meeting, and Mr. Rajotte has asked Mr. Van Kesteren if he would chair. I understand he has accepted as well.
For our two-hour meeting we'll hear first from our guests. Each will have between five and seven minutes to provide us with preliminary remarks; then we'll have the question and answer session when members of the committee will each have five minutes.
With that, we'll start with Mr. Cardamone, from Washington....
Yes, Mr. Caron.